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Since this was done with such relish by conservo bloggers when polls came out backing the Liberals, allow me to conspiratorially find bias in the Western Standard's poll.

Faron Ellis is the chief pollster for JMCK Communications, whose principals -- Stephen Johnston, Sean McKinsley and Matthew Johnston -- are founding managers of Ezra's magazine. This fact is not in the story, nor is Ellis' JMCK tag.

But let's assume that there is no political bias in the pollster. Let's look at the full poll Ezra laudibly provided to us.

Q1 In the last federal election campaign, Prime Minister Paul Martin dedicated his government to eliminating the democratic deficit by making the federal government more representative and responsible. Please indicate how effective you think the Martin government has been at eliminating the democratic deficit since being elected one year ago.

Q2 In the last federal election campaign, Prime Minister Paul Martin made it a priority to end western alienation. Please indicate how effective you think the Martin government has been at ending western alienation since being elected one year ago.

Q3 Please tell me how much you agree or disagree with the following statement. Western Canadians should begin to explore the idea of forming their own country.
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Any political science or communications students out there? Ask people two questions about apparent failures of a government, then throw in your hardball question. Inflame, inflame, then reap the benefits.
Whoever said "push poll" in the last entry hit it.

In the story: Writer likens the numbers to Quebec's. Do pollsters on PQ sovereignty ask, "Quebecers should begin to explore the idea of forming their own country. Agree?"
Shall i get into the issue that nowhere in it mentions that of the 65% of Westerners that are happy with Canada, more than three-quarters are in the "strongly agree" camp.
This doesn't bolster the cause, but does indicate the degree of soft support for independence, perhaps bolstered by the two questions prior.